1. petit mal epilepsy, petit mal, epilepsia minor, epilepsy
usage: epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal attacks of brief clouding of consciousness (and possibly other abnormalities); "she has been suffering from petit mal since childhood"
2. petit mal, epilepsia minor, epileptic seizure
usage: a seizure of short duration characterized by momentary unconsciousness and local muscle spasms or twitching; "the girl was frightened by her first petit mal"